Short circuiting switch



Dec. 22, 1931. w. co v 1,837,533

SHORT CIRCUITING SWITCH Filed April 15, 1950 6 A TTORNEY in the apex.

Patented Dec. 22, 1931 WILLIAM. E. COLVIN, or

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA SHORT CIRCUITING SWITCH Application filed April 15,

provide a short clrcuiting switch especially applicable to motorcycles,but which may be applied to any type of vehicle, motor boat or otherconveyance, and which will automatically short circuit the ignitionsystem in the event of overturning or dangerous tipping of the vehicle,but which will not short cir cuit due to bumps or jarring. 1

Another objectof the invention is to provide a device as described whichis readily attached or detached and which may readily be disconnectedfrom the circuit when desired, and which may readily be applied toexisting vehicles by attachment to some part of the frame or groundcircuit of a vehicle, and making one additional electrical connection.to the high tension lead of the ignition system.

A. further object of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter described which is extremely simple in operation having only asingle moving part and which is proof against interruptions, economicalto construct, and eflicient in operation.

One of the greatest dangers of motorcycle operation and which hasresulted in many injuries and considerable damage to property is theability of the motorto continue running after the motorcycle has turnedover, in some cases injuring the operator by the fast moving parts, andin some cases when the operator pushes themotorcycle oif himself,possibly rightingit, the motorcycle will travel for some distanceendangering lives, and damaging property.

The invention consists primarily of a triangular housing inverted, witha ball resting A contact spring is disposed in- Fig.

1930. Serial No, 444,438.

side andinsulated from thehousing on each side of the triangle, thedevice being mounted with the triangle baseup, whereby, it the device istilted sufliciently in" any direction the ball rolls to oneofthecontacts making a circuit between the contact and the housing. Thehousing is grounded and the contacts are'in circuit with the hightension lead of the ignition system. Short circuiting of the hightension lead to the housing prevents the sparkingof the spark plugs,thereby stopping the motor. 7

Referring to the accompanying'drawings, in which a I Fi 1 is aperspective view of the invention; c

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the invention with cover removed and inrightposition; I

Fig. 3 is a tilted view of the device showing the ball making contact,and short circuiting the high tension circuit;

4 is a sectional V elevation taken through. the side of the housing andcontact spring;

Fig. 5 is a wiring diagram of an ignition i circuit showing thedeviceincluded therein.

Similar reference characters are used to designate similar partsthroughout the several views.

The device consists of a housing 6 having a cover -7 and a clampingmember 8 for attachment to the frame of a motorcycle. A screw and nut 9provides means for retaining the cover in place. The housing 6 is ofsufficientdepth to freely receive a conductive ball 10, and has affixedto the bottom the upstanding conductive members 11 bent as at 12 tolimit the movement of the ball 10. Blocks of soft rubber or otherresilient material 1'3 and. 14 are fixed as indicated to cushion andsilence the ball during normal operation ot-the device.

The contacts 16 are formed of resilient conductive material in the formof arcuate leaf springs, and are insulated from the housing 6 by stripsof insulation 17 and insulating washers 18 and retained by screws 19. Aconductive member 20 connects the two contacts 1G with the terminalscrew 21 insulated from the housing by insulating washers 22.

The wiring diagram illustrates the principle of operation as related tothe ordinary battery type of ignition. The usual make and break switch23 is inserted in circuit with a battery 2 and the primary of aninduction coil 25, the secondary 526 having in shunt the usual condenser27, one side of the secondary being grounded to the engine frame 28, the

high tension lead 29 being carried through a distributor, not indicated,and thence to the spark plug indicated as a spark gap 30. The housing 6is grounded to the frame 28 and contacts 16 are circuit. with the hightension lead 29 in operation with breaker switch 23 closed, a currentflows from the battery EZ-l through the primary and as the cam 31revolves it opens the breaker switch 23 interrupting the current whichresuits in an induced high tension current in the secondary 2S andstored in condenser which is released across the spark ga p 30. In theevent of the vehicle turning over, the ball 10 rolls between and makescontact between the members 11 and contacts 16 as indicated in Fig. 23causing a short circuit through which the potential energy isdissipated, preventing a spark across the gap 30, in this mannerstalling the motor. As soon as the vehicle is again righted, the balldrops back b-ctwe blocks 13 and 14 permitting further operation of themotor.

Having described an operative method of constructing and using thedevice, it will be understood that variations in design, con structionand :u'rzuigement of parts which are consiste. with the scope of theappended claims may be resorted to without detracting from the spirit orscope of the invemion or sacrificing any oi the advantages thereof.

I claim z-- 1. it. short cir aiiting switch, in combination, a groundedconductive housing of triangular form with normally depending verter:and tracirways incorporating the sides and integral parallel members,contacts fixed to said sides and in ated therefrom, and a ball normal]retained in said depending vertex and cushioning means therein forsilencpurposes, said ball being adapted to travel in said tra l :vays and to complete a circuit through said housing and said contact, saidcontacts being in circuit with a high tension load.

A short circuiting switch comprising in combination a triangular housingand a cover therefor, parallel track members spacedly related to the twosides thereof, arcuately formed resilient contact strips attached tosaid sides and insulated therefrom, an electrical connection betweensaid contact strips signature.

\VM. E. COLVIN.

